1998-07-20                     Senate Journal                      Page 4331
SB 2001                                                                      
SENATE BILL NO. 2001 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                             
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                          
                                                                               
An Act authorizing the Alaska Legislative Council                             
to sue on behalf of the state concerning the validity                          
of a rural subsistence priority conferred in federal                           
statute; and providing for an effective date.                                  
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Resources Committee.               
                                                                               
Zero fiscal note published today from Department of Law.                       
                                                                               
Governors transmittal letter dated July 20:                                    
                                                                               
Dear President Miller:                                                         
                                                                               
The attached legislation was developed at the end of the last special          
session as part of a compromise approach to resolve the subsistence            
dilemma.  Along with a constitutional amendment, which I am also               
transmitting today, this compromise is the fundamental step in                 
regaining and retaining full state management of our fish and wildlife         
resources.                                                                     
                                                                               
The bill grants the authority for the Alaska Legislative Council to            
pursue a constitutional challenge of Title VIII of ANILCA.  This               
will confer legal standing to the Council in its current lawsuit before        
the U.S. District Court. Although I personally do not support this             
suit, I will allow this bill to become law as part of the overall              
compromise approach to provide for subsistence under state                     
management of fish and wildlife resources.                                     
                                                                               
                                                                               

1998-07-20                     Senate Journal                      Page 4332
SB 2001                                                                      
I urge the Legislature to take swift action on this and the                    
constitutional amendment so we can allow the Alaskan voters to                 
decide this long-standing issue once and for all.                              
                                                                               
						Sincerely,                                                               
						/s/                                                                      
						Tony Knowles                                                             
						Governor